DIPLOMATIC RESPONSE TO DRUG DOG'S TIP-OFF

A sniffer dog smelled an illegal drug on a member of the Russian
Embassy at Auckland Airport but Customs decided not to search him.

The man entered a restricted area of the airport on Saturday after
travelling to Auckland by car with two other members of the
Wellington embassy.

The three Russians were picking up another two Russian officials who
had flown in from Singapore.

Customs spokeswoman Janice Rodenburg said a Labrador sniffer dog
latched on to the man.

Customs officers questioned the "very cooperative" embassy worker and
let him go without a body search because they were satisfied with his
answers.

"We decided there were not sufficient grounds to pursue the matter
... That happens relatively often."

Janice Rodenburg said customs dogs responded to only the smell of
illegal drugs but that did not necessarily mean the person was
carrying them because some smells could linger.

Customs had contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade but
the man never claimed diplomatic immunity.

Nor had it been an issue in how he was treated, she said.

"We treated him the same as we would anyone else."

Janice Rodenburg said that if a drugs dog latched on to someone the
standard procedure was to question him or her and search baggage.

Customs officers did not always do a body search, she said.

"They have to have reasonable cause to suspect ... The officer makes
a judgment call based on observation and the conversation of the
passenger."

A spokesman for the Russian Ambassador in Wellington said there was
nothing in the incident that required comment.

A Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said the ministry had been told there
was "no problem" as far as Customs was concerned.